--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alexander was and is the absolute…" description: "\"“Alexander was and is the absolute embodiment of pure human ambition with all its good and evil consequences.”\" — Philip Freeman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/philip-freeman-53987_good-and-evil_alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodi_1265425.jpg" --- # Alexander was and is the absolute embodiment of pure human… ![“Alexander was and is the absolute embodiment of pure human ambition with all its good and evil consequences.” quote by Philip Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/philip-freeman-53987_good-and-evil_alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodi_1265425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/philip-freeman-53987_good-and-evil_alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodi_1265425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/philip-freeman-53987_good-and-evil_alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodi_1265425.jpg) > ““Alexander was and is the absolute embodiment of pure human ambition with all its good and evil consequences.”” [Philip Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freeman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Alexander exemplifies how extreme ambition can drive monumental achievements and also cause destructive outcomes. **In simple terms:** Ambition can be both heroic and harmful. Key Takeaway Balance drive with responsibility. Themes ambition leadership power legacy dual nature Mood reflective inspirational Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - military strategy - political leadership - personal goal setting Key Concepts history psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What are the costs of unchecked ambition? - How can leaders harness ambition responsibly? A Different Perspective Ambition alone does not guarantee positive impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) ## Related quotes > [The crux of the matter is whether total war in its present form is justifiable, even when it serves a just purpose. 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We have many, many songs and we have very, very, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/we-have-songs-and-we-have-smiles-that-is-the-beauty-of-3ho-we-have/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [There is a gentle element, and man may breathe it with a calm, unruffled soul, and drink its living waters, till his heart is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-parker-willis/there-is-a-gentle-element-and-man-may-breathe-it-with-a-calm/) [Nathaniel Parker Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-parker-willis/) > [“What drives history is the human ambition to alter one’s condition to match one’s hopes.’3”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-marr/what-drives-history-is-the-human-ambition-to-alter-one-s-condition-to/) [Andrew Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-marr/) > [The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-universe-is-not-required-to-be-in-perfect-harmony-with-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We now know most things that can be measured in this world, except the bounds of human ambition!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/we-now-know-most-things-that-can-be-measured-in-this-world-except-the/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [To be allowed to call her "Dora", to write to her, to dote upon and worship her, to have reason to think that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/to-be-allowed-to-call-her-dora-to-write-to-her-to-dote-upon-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The poor Geordies are in the process of being rebuffed by every sentient human being whose ambition in life is more than simply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-liddle/the-poor-geordies-are-in-the-process-of-being-rebuffed-by-every/) [Rod Liddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-liddle/) > [Ever since childhood I have scorned the commonplace limits so often set upon human ambition. Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury - to me these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/ever-since-childhood-i-have-scorned-the-commonplace-limits-so-often/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More by Philip Freeman > [“As Alexander would confess years later, sex and sleep more than anything else reminded him that he was mortal. One”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/as-alexander-would-confess-years-later-sex-and-sleep-more-than/) [Philip Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freeman/) > [“jealous men only tormented themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/jealous-men-only-tormented-themselves/) [Philip Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freeman/) > [“the universe must have been created by an all-powerful prime mover who, however, took no interest in his handiwork.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/the-universe-must-have-been-created-by-an-all-powerful-prime-mover/) [Philip Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freeman/) > [“History has been so fascinated with Alexander the Great that it has overlooked the genius of his father. But by his supreme skill at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/history-has-been-so-fascinated-with-alexander-the-great-that-it-has/) [Philip Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freeman/) > [“There is a king of natural selection that takes place among myths. Those that capture something essential to the human condition can be preserved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/there-is-a-king-of-natural-selection-that-takes-place-among-myths/) [Philip Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freeman/) [Explore all 6 Philip Freeman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freeman/) ## More Alexander quotes > [I actually sat down and started three Alexanders at the same time. 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One”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/as-alexander-would-confess-years-later-sex-and-sleep-more-than/) [Philip Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freeman/) > [I'm a London girl, so I grew up on Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood... Dior, Chanel, the usual suspects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/i-m-a-london-girl-so-i-grew-up-on-alexander-mcqueen-and-vivienne/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [When I did 'Racing Demon' by David Hare, I worked with Paul Giamatti, who had stacks of books in his dressing room. 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And those who kept control of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-chugg/alexander-s-mere-name-and-the-fame-of-his-feats-raised-rulers-and/) [Andrew Chugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-chugg/) > [Where did he go!” he bellowed, gloved hands clenching. “I had him in a snare that would take Alexander the Great a lifetime to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/where-did-he-go-he-bellowed-gloved-hands-clenching-i-had-him-in-a/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) Browse all 230 Alexander quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Alexander was and is the absolute embodiment of pure human ambition with all its good and evil consequences.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip Freeman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodiment-of-pure-human-ambition/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alexander" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodiment-of-pure-human-ambition/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/philip-freeman-53987_good-and-evil_alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodi_1265425.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/philip-freeman-53987_good-and-evil_alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodi_1265425.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/philip-freeman-53987_good-and-evil_alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodi_1265425.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Alexander was and is the absolute embodiment of pure human ambition with all its good and evil consequences.” — Philip Freeman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Philip Freeman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freeman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Alexander was and is the absolute...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodiment-of-pure-human-ambition/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/alexander-was-and-is-the-absolute-embodiment-of-pure-human-ambition/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```